CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS – BSIDES KOLKATA 2026

Who can volunteer

• Cybersecurity professionals, engineers, developers, and IT practitioners, anyone who can take ownership of tasks and work with minimal supervision.
• Students and early-career professionals who are eager to learn, contribute, and handle responsibilities on the ground.
• Security community members who are proactive, disciplined, and comfortable working in a fast-paced event environment.

These are strictly volunteer roles. There are no salaries or stipends. The main value is learning, networking, contribution, and being part of a strong cybersecurity community.

Volunteer roles and tasks

Below is an overview of the type of work you may be assigned. The final role will be allocated by the organizing team based on event needs.

• Registration Desk: Help attendees check in, verify IDs if required, hand out badges and kits, and guide them to the correct hall or area.
• Merchandise & Info Desk: Manage conference goodies, answer basic attendee queries, and direct people to the right support team.
• Track / Session Hosting: Welcome speakers, make basic introductions, coordinate with the AV/tech team, keep track of time, and help with Q&A flow.
• Exhibition / Community Booths: Support partners and community booths, manage visitor flow, and help maintain a clean and safe space.
• Help Desk / Control Room: Coordinate information between teams, report issues, and help route support to where it is needed.
• Runners: Handle quick errands, fill in for other volunteers during breaks, and support any urgent on-ground requirements.
• Photography / Videography Support: Assist the media team in capturing sessions, workshops, and key moments as per guidelines.
• Digital Marketing: Help in the digital visibility and broadcast event details through social media.
• Hygiene & Venue Management: Help ensure basic cleanliness, coordinate with venue staff, and keep common areas presentable.
• Party / Social Events Duty: Check valid passes at networking events and help maintain a safe, respectful environment.

Do not apply if / Points to keep in mind

To keep the team focused and effective, please do not apply if:

• You only want a free pass to attend the conference and do not wish to actively work during your assigned shifts.
• You are not comfortable taking ownership, solving small problems on your own, or coordinating with others in a dynamic environment.
• You cannot commit your availability for pre-event preparation, mandatory briefings, and all assigned shifts during the conference days.
• You are not okay with flexible timings, async communication, and last-minute changes that are normal for live events.
• You are unable or unwilling to put in focused effort for a volunteer-led, community-first initiative.

General terms and expectations

• Volunteering is a serious responsibility. When you sign up, you are expected to treat your duties like a professional commitment and give your best during all assigned shifts.
• You may get time to attend a few sessions, but your assigned duty always comes first. Any request to attend a specific talk must be discussed with and approved by your team lead in advance so a replacement can be arranged.
• Short breaks between shifts are allowed, but you must return on time so that the event flow is not disturbed.
• Social plans, city visits, or late-night outings are your personal choice, but they cannot be used as a reason to miss or delay your shift.
• Volunteers must follow the conference code of conduct, privacy and photography rules, and all venue policies at all times.
• Travel to and from the conference city must be arranged by the volunteers themselves unless explicitly mentioned as a perk.

Event setup and teardown

• Event Setup: All selected volunteers must report to the main venue on the day before the conference at the time specified in the confirmation email for setup and briefing.
• Tear Down: All volunteers are required to stay back after the last conference day to help with teardown, pack-up, and closing formalities.

Exact timings and location details will be shared with confirmed volunteers via email and the official communication channel.

Accommodation and travel support

If applicable for your event edition, the organizing team may offer some or all of the following benefits to confirmed on-ground volunteers:

• Shared stay for a fixed number of days during the conference, for volunteers traveling from outside the city.
• Possible travel support or partial reimbursement for outstation volunteers, subject to prior approval and budget limits.
• Conference team goodies and swags designed specifically for the volunteer crew.

Details of accommodation type, check-in/check-out dates, and any travel reimbursement caps will be clearly communicated in the final confirmation email.

Post-conference perks

Volunteering is a community contribution, but there are additional perks:

• Access to an exclusive team-only after-party or gathering after the conference.
• Closed-group networking time with speakers, security researchers, founders, and industry leaders where possible.
• Certificates of appreciation and recognition for volunteers who complete all assigned shifts responsibly.
• Priority consideration for future editions and other community initiatives for high-performing volunteers.

Managing indiscipline and violations

• Volunteers who repeatedly come late, skip shifts, or fail to complete their agreed responsibilities may lose their volunteer status and associated benefits.
• In serious cases of misbehavior, harassment, or violation of the conference code of conduct, the organizing team may remove the volunteer from the event and blacklist them from future community activities.
• If any benefits such as accommodation, passes, or travel support have been extended and the volunteer does not honor their commitment, the organizing team may revoke these benefits and may ask the volunteer to bear some or all related costs.

How to apply

Your volunteer application form will typically ask for:

• Basic details: Name, contact information, city, and emergency contact.
• Availability: Days and times you are available before and during the conference.
• Skills and interests: Prior event experience, technical skills, preferred roles, and any relevant links (GitHub, LinkedIn, portfolio).
• Confirmation: Agreement to the terms, code of conduct, and minimum time commitment.

A link or button such as “Apply as a Volunteer” can be placed at the end of this page to redirect users to the application form.

You can now adapt the names (conference title, city, exact dates, perks) and add your specific code-of-conduct link to match your event branding.